BUENA PARK, CA (SNN) – After a Southern California Gurdwara was vandalized by miscreants, the local police authorities have opened a hate crimes investigation into the incident in which anti-Islamic expletives were spray painted on the property and on a tractor trailer parked in the property.

The vandalism occurred just days after the horrific San Bernardino shooting rampage that took the lives of 14 county employees at a holiday party at a county facility.

Sikhs in western countries have often become mistaken for middle-easterners or Muslim extremists because of their distinctive appearance of dastars (turbans) and beards.

Speaking to the media, Sikh Temple representative, Jaspreet Singh stated “The graffiti had gang codes and a racial slur and profanity in reference to ISIS and Islam, which was misspelled.”

"Freedom of Expression is a Human Right"
Freedom of expression is a fundamental human right as stated in Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights:

"Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers."